Sharpie News

Sharpie® Metallic Teams Up with Rod Smith to Bring Nationwide "Autographs for Education" Program to Denver

Sep 16, 2003

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Sharpie®, the popular brand of permanent markers recently featured in a famous touchdown celebration, is making its mark on education. Now, a national program that combines the popular markers with NFL players, kids and a fleet of silver all-terrain vehicles is scoring a touchdown in the Denver area, as the "Sharpie Metallic Autographs for Education" program visits a school in Denver. Today at Centennial Elementary School, Denver Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith is bringing the "AUTOgraphs for Education" program to Denver’s youth. The program, which kicked off earlier this summer in Atlanta with 49ers wide receiver Terrell Owens, enlists the help of sports figures to deliver school supplies and raise funds for schools and community education groups across the country.

During a special school assembly, Smith will arrive with a custom-designed Sharpie Metallic Silver Hummer H2 vehicle, deliver school supplies and collect student's signatures on oversized 8-by-10 foot AUTOgraph wall. Sharpie will donate funds to Centennial Elementary School in exchange for the autographs collected in Denver, with a cash donation of $3,000 and a matching donation in school and art supplies. The national program will visit two additional cities across the country this fall, for a total donation of $30,000 in cash and school supplies.

"Sharpie is really working to make a difference in education for kids with the Sharpie Metallic AUTOgraphs for Education program," said Smith. "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to ask kids for their autographs, visit their school and get the kids excited about learning."

"Denver Public Schools is excited to participate in this great program. Our schools, like numerous others across the country, know firsthand about funding challenges in the system," said Centennial Elementary School Principal Gail Paige-Archambeau. "Companies like Sharpie are helping to bring education to the forefront by generously giving money and school supplies, and athletes like Rod really help to get kids excited about learning and being involved at school."

The Sharpie Metallic AUTOgraphs for Education event at Centennial Elementary School is the fourth local-market event this summer and fall taking place among six schools and community centers across the United States. The first event kicked off in Atlanta earlier this summer, followed by events in Chicago and St. Louis. After Denver, two additional Sharpie AUTOgraph blitzes will take place in Pittsburgh and San Francisco. In each city, local professional sports figures will seek autographs from students and their teachers, to benefit the individual schools and community education programs.

"Sharpie is thrilled to team up with Rod Smith and Denver Public Schools for this worthwhile education program," said Greg Stoner, vice president and general manager for Sharpie. "Teaming up with an athlete of Rod's caliber helps get kids excited about education, and this program allows Sharpie to help support local schools in great communities like Denver."

In addition to helping children in local communities, Sharpie Metallic is also featuring the all-terrain vehicles as part of the "Sharpie H24U Hummer H2 Giveaway Sweepstakes," in which individuals can enter online or via mail to win a silver Hummer H2 of their own. Four Sharpie Metallic Silver H2s will travel the country this summer and fall, visiting local fairs and festivals in more than 150 cities nationwide, offering the public a chance to enter the sweepstakes and interactive displays from Sharpie. For official rules or to enter the sweepstakes, visit http://www.sanfordcorp.com/sanford/consumer/h2promo/jhtml/entry_options.jhtml.

Sharpie Metallic is the latest breakthrough product and first metallic marker from Sharpie, the nearly 40-year-old permanent marker brand. Perfect for marking on dark surfaces, Sharpie Metallic offers a silver metallic ink and the permanence and dependability of the worlds most popular family of permanent markers.

About Denver Public Schools

With 148 schools and 4,500 teachers, DPS is Colorado's second largest school district and the only urban school district in the state. The district's goals are setting high expectations, improving the performance of all students and closing the gap between better and poorer performing students. For more information, contact the Public Information Office at 303.764.3414